From EURACOAL (PDF via Euractiv h/t BP):

Global hard coal production in 2008 increased by some 200 million tonnes (Mt) or even more; China alone increased its production by 160 – 170 Mt. This will once more result in an increased share of coal in global electricity generation. Coal reserves are abundant and, due to the higher energy prices and modernized production technologies, resources also become more abundant. USA, China and Russia have the biggest coal resources in the World, so their participation in post-Kyoto commitments is essential for the world to have any chance of mitigating the effects of climate change; any unilateral CO2 abatement efforts by other countries will be useless.

From Crikey (via CEJournal), a group of six Australian climate scientists join the anti-coal campaign:

It is our considered view that no new coal-fired power stations, except ones that have ZERO emissions, should be allowed to be commissioned in Australia. Furthermore, we need an urgent program to replace existing coal plants with zero-carbon energy sources and energy efficiency programs as soon as possible. We understand that this will require a significant social and economic transition that will need to be managed carefully to care for coal sector workers and coal-dependent communities and to meet Australia’s energy needs both through the transition and in the longer term. However, given the climate change imperative, this transition needs to proceed with the utmost urgency.

The unfortunate reality is that genuine action on climate change will require that existing coal-fired power stations cease to operate in the near future. We feel it is vital that you understand this and we are happy to work with you and with governments to begin planning for this transition immediately.

At some point these well-meaning scientists and their international colleagues will realize that shutting down coal plants is just not in the cards in the “near future.” The realities of global energy supply and geopolitics necessarily implies that capture and sequestration will have to be developed and deployed, if carbon dioxide emissions from coal are to be addressed.

Scientists acting as advocates is fine, as they are citizens as well. But is it too much to ask that their advocacy be well-informed and practical, rather than naive and impossible? Advocating faster progress on capture and storage technologies would be a good place to start.